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Hi Sylvia, Coincidentally, I have just been having a related discussion with a Roman artefacts colleague, about the relative merits of working antler fresh or weathered. I don't have a lot of hands- on experience of this, though having sawn up a few bones for various purposes, one of the issues with really fresh bone is the tendency for the bone dust to 'gum up' saws and drills. Fresh bone is also very resilient, so working by chisels, spokeshaves, files etc can be compromised by a tendency for the material to 'give' as the blade pushes into it, rather than cutting. The closest analogy I can think of is the difference between working green wood and seasoned wood. My inclination with bone would be to treat the bone with hot water and detergent to shift as much of the lower molecular-weight organics as possible without compromising the collagen, then make sure it is thoroughly dry before working it. Terry Terry O'Connor Professor of Archaeological Science Department of Archaeology, University of York Biology S Block, Heslington, York YO10 5DD +44-1943-328619 http://www.york.ac.uk/archaeology/staff/academic-staff/terry-oconnor/ And see the blog at http://zooarchatyork.wordpress.com/author/zooarchatyork/ On 10 September 2012 10:33, WARMAN, Sylvia < [log in to unmask]> wrote: > ** > Hello everyone. > > A friend is about to embark on a bit of experimental archaeology - to make > a comb from a cattle scapula (fresh). They asked what method of preparation > would be best. > > I am familiar with what would make a good reference specimen, but wonder > if different treatments at an early stage will make it easier to work? > > Any ideas/suggestions? > > Many Thanks > > Sylvia > > > Dr Sylvia Warman | Science Advisor, ******London********** > > Direct Line: 0207 973 3733**** > > Mobile Phone: 07881805347**** > > **** > > English Heritage | ****1 Waterhouse Square******** > > 138-42 Holborn | ****London**** EC1N 2ST**** > > **** > > *www.english-heritage.org.uk***** > > > This e-mail (and any attachments) is confidential and may contain personal > views which are not the views of English Heritage unless specifically > stated. If you have received it in error, please delete it from your system > and notify the sender immediately. Do not use, copy or disclose the > information in any way nor act in reliance on it. Any information sent to > English Heritage may become publicly available. > > Portico: your gateway to information on sites in the National Heritage > Collection; have a look and tell us what you think. > > http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/professional/archives-and-collections/portico/ >